RWANDA:Uganda refuses Rwandans refugee status
Kampala : More than 1300 Rwandans who allegedly fled to Uganda in fear of political persecution have been denied refugee status, the Ugandan government announced.
Mr. Douglas Asiimwe, a senior refugee protection officer in the Uganda Prime Minister’s office reportedly revealed Thursday that the 1,312 individuals did not qualify for status.
Most of them came from Gisagara district in the Southern province of Rwanda, while others are from Kibungo and Mutara which are both now part of the Eastern Province, according to The New Vision.
They arrived in Uganda between April and March this year and it is believed that they did not go through the border points.
They claim their relatives were kidnapped while others were arrested and detained in unreachable places because they supported opposition parties, according to Ugandan officials.
About 70 families of the 1,312 who fled to Uganda recently, were among refugees who were brought back home last year.
There were up to 25,000 Rwandan refugees living in Southern western Uganda camps since 1994 but have since last year been encouraged to return. Thousands fled the camp preferring not to be repatriated to Rwanda.
Available figures show that some 17,000 refused to return. Media reports said in March that the Ugandan government had ordered that these refugees not be allowed to cultivate.
RNA